Recent Grants Support All Faiths Food Bank

December 11, 2024 | Sarasota

All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) recently received $126,000 from five funders in support of its work to end hunger. Grants received this summer and programs to which funding is designated include: Mosaic, $45,000, Mobile Pantry program in DeSoto County; Dr. Samir M. Shafie Charitable Foundation, $30,000, Veterans Pantry; Wolohan Family Foundation, $25,000, BackPack program; MMDP Foundation Fund of the Miramar Charitable Foundation, $18,000, BackPack program; and Cook Family Foundation, $8,000, BackPack program.

Mosaic’s support for AFFB in DeSoto County began in 2012 for mobile pantries and soon expanded to include support for the BackPack program, which provides students with “backpacks” filled with nutritious foods for the weekends and during school holidays. Over the past 13 years, Mosaic has contributed more than $840,000 to AFFB in support of these programs.

With the financial support provided by Mosaic, individuals and families obtained nutritious food on a regular basis from 11 mobile pantries located in their neighborhoods throughout the county. Over the past 12 months, approximately 289,627 pounds of fresh produce were distributed through the Mobile Pantry program in DeSoto County.

“Mosaic is proud to support All Faiths Food Bank and programs such as the Mobile Pantry initiative in DeSoto County,” said Brent Anderson, public affairs and community relations manager. “For well over a decade, we’ve helped to ensure that families and children facing food insecurity have the resources they need to thrive. We’re proud to partner with All Faiths to continue our commitment to building stronger, healthier local communities.”

More than 50% of Sarasota County students and 100% of DeSoto County students rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school. But when the weekend comes, or during holidays and breaks from school, children lose access to this critical nutrition. To help fill the hunger gap, AFFB’s BackPack program provides pre-packed “backpacks” for weekly distribution to students for weekends and during holidays/school breaks. In 2023, more than 320,000 were distributed, an 8% increase over the previous year.

In the 2024-2025 school year, backpacks are available at 45 schools and youth-serving organizations in Sarasota and DeSoto counties.

Additionally, there is a designated Veterans Pantry offered twice-monthly at Church of the Palms in Sarasota. Hundreds of veterans benefit from this service every month.

“By sharing nourishing foods through the BackPack program, we can help children to be healthier, happier and more likely to succeed in school. The mobile pantries in DeSoto County are providing residents of all ages with critical nutritional assistance while the Veterans Pantry assists veterans who are at-risk of hunger,” said All Faiths Food Bank’s President and CEO, Nelle S. Miller. “We are so grateful to these funders for supporting our work to help individuals and families experiencing hunger in Sarasota and DeSoto counties.”

To learn more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.